In conclusion...

I have really enjoyed making my own film opening in a genre that I appreciate and have been inspired by for ages, and for the next year’s task, I am most certainly going to choose the film option again. Doing this has got me more interested and aware of the whole media, especially film, and the fact that making films has become much easier for amateur and professional film makers, there is a huge variety of film out there and to made. It has also given me the interest of possibly following this as a career path, even at this early stage.

Here are links to a couple of past foundation project blogs that I looked at to give some idea of what is to come in this years AS course in media, and I have used them as a guide to know what important things I should include in my film and blog.

- http://hollyamelialaurafoundationportfolio.blogspot.co.uk

-  http://victoriaparkersmediablog.blogspot.co.uk

Who would the audience be for your media product? - Evaluation

I have already said what the audience would be in my previous posts along with a audience questionnaire, but that was before I fully completed the foundation project, and in hindsight it hasn't changed that much, but I think it has created more audiences for itself, because it started off as a typical gangster film, but then I realized, despite the statement sounding cheesy, has got more to it than a typical gangster film, and I think that it could attract the attention of people would like dramas, as it deals with a person  trying to move on from what he used to do. again the age rating for my audience is around 15-18 years as it has some action and violence but the dialogue is toned down from what you would normally hear in a gangster film.  

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the final product? - Evaluation

From when I finished my preliminary task I feel that I have learnt that time management is key when filming, because I wanted to get as much film as possible in the first day, but I didn't want to rush it, so I had to shoot over the course of three days to get the best looking footage, unlike my preliminary task, where I only had one day. Another thing I have learnt is not holding a shot for too long, and the effectiveness of the 180 degree rule and editing, despite these being basic filming techniques, it really made a difference in quality of the film.

This is an image from my preliminary task

I think that I have learnt that casting is really important, and it is better to choose someone because they fit the part of the character, not just because they were the first person who came to mind, unlike my preliminary task, where most of the actors were close friends, because I knew they would do it. I feel that the film making partnership with Alex has improved, because I felt with the preliminary task I was maybe being too easygoing or sugar coating any criticisms that I made when filming the task, which could affect the film, but with the foundation project, I was more serious and if I felt that something could of been improved on I would same, and with small things like props in the background that I thought would give the film more detail and layered I would recommend. 

How did you attract/address your audience? - Evaluation

I attracted my audience with opening scene by doing it in black and white, which would catch modern film audience's attention as black and white films are not so common any more, also might make them want to find out if there is any particular meaning to the use of black and white, also the use of alcohol, gun props and clothing, i think would get them intrigued. I addressed my audience by including young people playing quite adult roles, and I would like think that people who watch my film might get influenced to make their own gangster film. I think that because of the  use of young people in my film doing adult activities, it speaks to my audience (around 15-18 years) to say that we the right and freedom to do what older people do.

THE BRIEFCASE

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? - Evaluation

In my media product, The Briefcase I have used many conventions of real media products, such as Pulp Fiction, with the whole briefcase enigma, Snatch, British gangster film, and American films like Goodfellas, attempted realistic violence, also the look and name of the protagonist Simms was influenced by a character in a a quite unknown action-comedy film called Straight To Hell, and I think that the audience were aware of the subtle references or homages to these real media conventions, and I think that my film has challenged the genre, by filming a gangster film in the more south-west of England, which I don't think there are any. Although I have attempted to create my own take on the British gangster films, it not exactly unique or totally original, but I had to include various clichés and plot devices to keep the film interesting and to have a familiar feel.

The film Pulp Fiction gave my film the enigma  of  the mysterious briefcase